March 2011 Trail Run

Windy Hill Open Space Preserve
Saturday, March 12, 2011

A shaded switch-backed and runnable climb brings
us to one of the most inspiring vistas in the Bay area with almost
surreal grass covered hills dropping away at your feet towards the
Bay, with views of the Pacific, Mt. Diablo, and Mt. Tam all right
there on a clear day. This run is close to Palo Alto and the
footing is decent when wet. No surprise, then, that Windy Hill is
PARC's favorite Monthly Trail Run route.

When Saturday March 12, 2011. Meet at 8:15am for an 8:30am
start. Carpool will leave at 8:00am from the Park&Ride lot at
280 and Page Mill Road.

How to get there The parking lot for the lower portion of
the preserve is located on Portola Road. Take 280 North to Alpine
Road, exit Alpine Road. Go south on Alpine Road about 2.9 miles to
Portola Road (the first stop sign). Turn right on Portola Road and
travel 0.8 miles to the parking lot on the left side of the road.
Here is the Google Maps location.

What A long (about 12.35 miles, 1,400 feet vertical) and an
intermediate run (about 8 miles, 1,400 feet vertical).

These are remote trail runs and so each runner is encouraged to
carry at least one water bottle. Potable water is available at the
start only. To avoid having to search for lost runners we ask that
runners of approximately the same ability and ambition form groups
and be accountable for group members. There will be a potluck after
the run, so please bring a healthy drink or snack to share.

An online map of Windy Hill OSP can be found here. We will provide
printed copies of the map at the run. All distances are
approximate. The start of the run is a bit confusing as several
small trail segments are not named or signed. The basic idea is to
follow trails South to the Hamms Gulch Trail. The long and short
runs both stay together until reaching the peak.

Intermediate Run: 8.0
miles

SEGMENT

MILES

TOTAL

Exit at end of parking lot opposite the
driveway

0.1

0.1

L on Spring Ridge Tr. (stay to left of pond)

0.6

0.7

S on Meadow(?) Tr. (marked to Hamms Gulch
Tr.)

0.1

0.8

L on unnamed trail(?) (marked to Hamms Gulch
Tr.)

0.2

1.0

S on Hamms Gulch Tr. (@Meadow Tr., downhill for a
bit here)

0.4

1.4

R on Hamms Gulch Tr. (up up up you go)

2.6

4.0

R on Lost Tr. (portapot at the end of this
segment)

0.4

4.4

R on Anniversary Tr.

0.4

4.8

L to Summit

0.2

5.0

Backtrack to Anniversary Tr.

0.2

5.2

L on Anniversary Tr. (part ways with long run
here)

0.3

5.5

R on Spring Ridge Tr.

1.6

7.1

L on Spring Ridge Tr. (@ Meadow Tr.)

0.3

7.4

L on Betsy Crowder Tr.

0.6

8.0

L back to parking lot

0.1

8.1

Long Run: 12.35
miles

SEGMENT

MILES

TOTAL

Exit at end of parking lot opposite the
driveway

0.1

0.1

L on Spring Ridge Tr. (stay to left of pond)

0.6

0.7

S on Meadow(?) Tr. (marked to Hamms Gulch
Tr.)

0.1

0.8

L on unnamed trail(?) (marked to Hamms Gulch
Tr.)

0.2

1.0

S on Hamms Gulch Tr. (@Meadow Tr., downhill for a
bit here)

0.4

1.4

R on Hamms Gulch Tr. (up up up you go)

2.6

4.0

R on Lost Tr. (portapot at the end of this
segment)

0.4

4.4

R on Anniversary Tr.

0.4

4.8

L to Summit

0.2

5.0

Backtrack to Anniversary Tr.

0.2

5.2

R on Anniversary Tr. (part ways with short run
here)

0.4

5.6

L on Lost Tr.

0.4

6.0

S on Lost Tr. (@Hamm's Gulch)

1.7

7.7

L on Razor Back Ridge Tr.

2.3

10.0

L on Eagle Tr. (on and off the road for a
bit)

0.6

10.6

L on Road (to Hamms Gulch Tr.)

0.1

10.7

R on Hamms Gulch Tr.

0.4

11.1

L on Meadow Tr.

0.4

11.5

R on Spring Ridge Tr.

0.3

11.8

L on Betsy Crowder Tr.

0.6

12.4

L back to parking lot

0.1

12.5

Saturday September 12, 2009. Meet
at 8:15am for an 8:30am start. Carpool will leave at 8:00am from
the Park&Ride lot at 280 and Page Mill Road.

The parking lot for the lower portion of the
preserve is located on Portola Road. Take 280 North to Alpine Road,
exit Alpine Road. Go south on Alpine Road about 2.9 miles to
Portola Road (the first stop sign). Turn right on Portola Road and
travel 0.8 miles to the parking lot on the left side of the road.
Here is the Google Maps
location.

What A long (about 12.35 miles,
1,400 feet vertical) and an intermediate run (about 8 miles, 1,400
feet vertical).

This is a remote trail run and each runner must
carry at least one water bottle. To avoid having to search for lost
runners we ask every runner to find other runners of approximately
the same running ability to form a group. The runners in each group
must be able to account for their partners to make sure nobody is
lost.

As usual, there will be a runner's potluck after
the run, so please bring food or drink to share.

Why A
shaded switchbacked and very runnable climb brings us to one of the
most inspiring views in the Bay area with almost surreal grass
covered hills dropping away at your feet towards the Bay, with
views of the Pacific, Mt. Diablo, and Mt. Tam all right there on a
clear day. Of the PARC monthly trail runs, this run is the closest
to Palo Alto and is frequently the most popular of our trail
runs.